Clubs & RFU set for Lions clash

Sale are one of three clubs docked �120,000 in total for refusing an RFU request to rest Lions players.

"The British Lions have paid the money to the RFU because we've fulfilled their obligations to the Lions," De Vos told BBC Radio Five Live.

"The RFU have no right to hold on to that money. They're just the postmen."

England's top clubs look set for a bitter row over the RFU's insistence that English members of the British and Irish Lions should have an 11-week break from competitive rugby.

To come out with such provocative action isn't helpful Chief executive Niels de Vos

According to the RFU, clubs agreed they would get �15,000 for each player on Lions duty but only if they had the stipulated rest.

However, Premier Rugby, which looks after the clubs, insists there was no agreement and has promised action.

"To come out with such provocative action at this time isn't helpful," added De Vos.

"It's a legal issue - the money for our players competing in the British Lions was paid for by the British Lions to the clubs - that was with whom the contracts were.

"The RFU are simply a middleman. They must give it to the clubs or give it to the Lions, who at that point will presumably have to give it to us because we've fulfilled our contract with them."

Sale have four players involved - Jason Robinson, Mark Cueto, Charlie Hodgson and Andrew Sheridan - which has led to the RFU holding back �60,000 as a result.

Although the conflict between the clubs and the RFU threatens to drag out, De Vos insists it is not just another 'club versus country' row.

"It's deeply unfortunate because we need to be looking forward to the Autumn internationals, the Six Nations and the 2007 World Cup, and get on with it and accept it's not about club versus country.

"Club and country can do well, we won the 2003 World Cup on that basis.